-
David Hale
There’s loads of star energy within the 2025 quarterback class. Carson Beck, Cade Klubnik and Drew Allar return. Kevin Jennings, Maddux Madsen and Sam Leavitt led playoff groups and are again for extra. Oh, and there is some man named Manning who’ll lastly get his shot to begin at Texas.
However after the previous few years by which blue bloods routinely chased veterans within the switch portal, we’re about to enter a season by which Michigan, Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama and Ole Miss anticipate to begin guys with little or no expertise as QB1.
After COVID-19 guidelines allowed gamers to stay round for 5, six and even seven years in school, 2025 represents the unofficial finish level of the bonus yr — except you are Diego Pavia, who may play till he is eligible to gather social safety.
In the meantime, a few of final season’s most disappointing QB tales — Miller Moss, Conner Weigman, Jackson Arnold — will get an opportunity to rewrite their script with new groups this season.
All of it shapes as much as be one of many extra intriguing seasons on the sport’s most vital place.
However fortunately, we have accomplished the heavy lifting of sifting by means of the depth charts of all 136 FBS groups, digging deep into the stats, and consulted our Magic Eight Ball to rank each QB state of affairs within the nation by tiers.
Soar to a piece:
Best of the best | Waiting time is over
One more try
Wiley veterans | Used to be starters
Tier 1: Prime of the category (11 gamers)
Clemson (Cade Klubnik, Christopher Vizzina)
LSU (Garrett Nussmeier, Michael Van Buren Jr.)
Oklahoma (John Mateer, Michael Hawkins Jr., Whitt Newbauer)
Penn State (Drew Allar, Ethan Grunkemeyer)
South Carolina (LaNorris Sellers, Air Noland)
Final season’s greatest quarterback, Cam Ward, was electrical — a magician on the sector who routinely made awe-inspiring performs. This yr’s greatest do not precisely match that mildew. As an alternative, among the largest names — Allar, Klubnik, Nussmeier — did not a lot catch lightning in a bottle as slowly construct their repertoire till incomes their place on the prime of the game. They’re constant producers; veterans who, in case you comply with the profession development strains, ought to attain peak efficiency in 2025.
Sellers and Mateer, then again, had a number of extra of these “Heisman moments” final yr. Sellers began gradual however blossomed late, taking part in at as excessive a stage as anybody within the nation by yr’s finish. Mateer flourished within the relative obscurity of Washington State and now can be tasked with reviving Oklahoma’s program below the glare of the SEC highlight. Each gamers scratched the floor of greatness final yr and enter 2025 with huge expectations.
QB comparability
QB A: 78.1 QBR, 68% completions, 7.4 yards per move, 25 touchdowns
QB B: 78.8 QBR, 64% completions, 7.7 yards per move, 26 touchdowns
QB B is LSU’s Nussmeier final season towards FBS opponents. He was good, however the numbers aren’t eye-popping. So why is there a lot buzz round him? Properly, QB A is Jayden Daniels‘ line at LSU from 2022 — a yr earlier than he gained the Heisman Trophy with some actually eye-popping stats. Might Nussmeier be on the identical trajectory?
Enjoyable info:
Eight QBs within the playoff period have racked up no less than 4,100 yards and 43 touchdowns whereas having seven or fewer turnovers, as Klubnik did final season. The others embrace 5 Heisman winners and two finalists. Every was chosen throughout the first 10 picks of the NFL draft.
No QB had extra landing passes on throws of 20 yards or extra final season than Klubnik (16). His line on deep balls: 47% completions, 16 TDs, 3 INTs, 16.6 yards/try.
Within the playoff period, 14 gamers posted a line of 4,000 yards, 40 touchdowns, 9 yards per move and not more than 10 turnovers. That group contains 13 gamers chosen within the first 15 picks of the draft, six Heisman winners and eight extra finalists. Mateer missed that membership by solely 36 yards final yr.
Mateer’s 53 damaged or evaded tackles final season topped all FBS quarterbacks.
No QB who averaged no less than 9 air yards per throw had a decrease price of off-target throws than Mateer (9.1%).
Penn State ran a profitable play on 52.8% of its dropbacks final season, tops by a crew returning its 2024 starter. Subsequent greatest was TCU (50.3%).
If Allar begins 9 video games, he’ll be the fourth Penn State QB since 2013 with 38 profession begins whereas taking part in for just one crew. There are solely 33 different Energy 5 QBs who’ve accomplished that in the identical span. No different crew has greater than two.
Sellers’ 2024 manufacturing:
In Weeks 1-9: 51.7 QBR, 5 passing TDs, 4 INTs, 6.91 yards per move
In Weeks 10 by means of the bowl sport: 81.4 QBR, 13 passing TDs, 4 INTs, 9.85 yards per move
Tier 1b: So scorching proper now (six gamers)
Florida (DJ Lagway, Harrison Bailey)
Miami (Carson Beck, Emory Williams)
Texas (Arch Manning, Matthew Caldwell)
A yr in the past, Beck was the clear-cut prime QB getting into the season, and although he put up comparatively sturdy numbers once more in 2024, he was largely thought of a disappointment. Then he was injured within the SEC title sport and transferred to Miami, and now Beck he enters 2025 as one thing of a thriller. He may get better his NFL draft inventory with an elite season following in Ward’s footsteps … or he might be a multimillion-dollar bust.
The dialog round Manning and Lagway is 2 former five-star recruits who seem on the verge of breakout performances. Their ceilings are ridiculously excessive, however their precise on-field manufacturing to this point leaves loads of room for questions.
QB comparability
What if I instructed you certainly one of these QBs is getting love as a possible No. 1 draft decide for 2026 and the opposite is coming off a “down yr”?
QB A: 82.3 QBR, 28 TD passes, 12 INTs, 64.7% completions, 7.78 yards per try
QB B: 79.1 QBR, 29 TD passes, 12 INTs, 64.2% completions, 7.72 yards per try
So, who’s the recent shot and who’s spiraling downward? QB B is LSU’s Nussmeier, who’s a favourite within the way-too-early mock drafts. QB A is Miami’s Beck, who was presupposed to be a potential No. 1 decide till his 2024 efficiency drew heavy criticism.
OK, another.
QB A: 72% completions, 9.45 yards per move, 24 landing passes, 3,941 passing yards
QB B: 73% completions, 8.74 yards per move, 29 landing passes, 3,917 passing yards
QB B appears to be like a tick higher, proper? Properly, QB A is Beck’s 2023 season at Georgia, when he was lauded as one of many nation’s greatest. QB B is Beck’s 2024 season at Georgia, in case you modify his stat line to the identical price of drops and contested catches by his receiving corps in 2024 that he had in 2023.
Enjoyable info:
Returning QBs who averaged no less than 9 yards per try final season:
Lagway, 9.97
Blake Horvath, 9.73
Darian Mensah, 9.49
Mateer, 9.05
Deshawn Purdie, 9.01
The primary month of the season showcased Manning’s potential: 983 yards on 91 touches, 12 touchdowns and two turnovers — all towards lesser competitors in Texas blowouts. From Oct. 1 on, he threw solely 12 extra passes for 38 yards.
Tier 2: Fairly darned good (eight gamers)
Arizona State (Sam Leavitt, Jeff Sims)
Baylor (Sawyer Robertson, Walker White)
Georgia Tech (Haynes King, Aaron Philo)
Iowa State (Rocco Becht, Connor Moberly)
If not one of the 4 beginning QBs here’s a family identify, it is solely as a result of these names have not been paid sufficient consideration. Leavitt led Arizona State to the Faculty Soccer Playoff final yr. Becht had Iowa State knocking on the door. Robertson completed as sturdy as any QB within the nation, and King saved profitable video games regardless of cruising to the end line of the season like Monty Python’s Black Knight — down a number of limbs however nonetheless preventing like loopy.
QB comparability
Considered one of these QBs was lauded for his ridiculous ultimate stretch of the season. The opposite flew largely beneath the radar nationally.
QB A: 6-1 (loss in bowl), 80.1 QBR, 64% completions, 20 TDs, 5 turnovers, 314 yards per sport
QB B: 6-1 (loss in bowl), 80.1 QBR, 67% completions, 18 TDs, 5 turnovers, 302 yards per sport
Do this over a full season and both could be within the Heisman dialog. However it was solely QB A — South Carolina’s Sellers — who acquired a lot love final December. However it’s value appreciating that QB B — Baylor’s Robertson — was each bit pretty much as good.
Enjoyable info:
From Nov. 1 on, no returning QB posted a greater QBR than Leavitt (86.8).
No returning QB scrambled for extra yards final season than Leavitt (423).
Becht has accounted for no less than one landing in 27 straight video games, the longest energetic streak in FBS — six video games greater than every other QB.
Becht numbers when Iowa State was trailing within the second half final season: 82.3 QBR, 8.55 yards/try, 11 whole touchdowns, 3 interceptions.
No QB had the next proportion of his passing yards come from throws behind the road of scrimmage final yr than King (28.2%). Leavitt was third (26.6%).
ACC QBs to put up a 7-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the previous 20 years: Jordan Travis, Devin Leary, Trevor Lawrence, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and King.
Robertson’s 82.9 QBR is one of the best by any returning Energy 4 QB from final season.
Tier 3: Buckle up (19 gamers)
Arkansas (Taylen Green, KJ Jackson)
Duke (Darian Mensah, Henry Belin IV)
Kansas (Jalon Daniels, Cole Ballard)
Louisville (Miller Moss, Brady Allen)
Navy (Blake Horvath, Braxton Woodson)
SMU (Kevin Jennings, Ty Hawkins, Tyler Van Dyke)
TCU (Josh Hoover, Ken Seals)
Texas Tech (Behren Morton, Mitch Griffis)
Vanderbilt (Diego Pavia, Drew Dickey)
Each projected starter in Tier 3 has delivered critical highlights — huge wins, explosive performs, and even an opportunity for Vandy followers to dump a aim put up into the river. However for all of the success, there are nonetheless some minor questions — Morton’s well being or Jennings’ playoff efficiency or whether or not Pavia should depart movie examine early to take his grandkids to soccer observe — that add a little bit of hazard to the proceedings. That in all probability means that is the tier that’ll present probably the most enjoyable in 2025.
QB comparability
Two QB strains since Week 7 of 2023. Who’s higher?
QB A: 76.3 QBR, 64.9% completions, 8.01 yards per move, 40 move touchdowns, 18 interceptions
QB B: 75.6 QBR, 62.9% completions, 7.79 yards per move, 40 move touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Except for the INTs, edge QB A? Properly, that is TCU’s Hoover. QB B is Penn State’s Allar, broadly thought of among the finest within the nation.
Here is one other.
QB A: 5-8 report, 45.6 QBR, 58% completions, 18 TD passes, 14 picks
QB B: 9-1 report, 68.7 QBR, 65% completions, 23 TD passes, 6 picks
QB A is Texas Tech’s Morton vs. FPI top-50 groups in his profession. QB B is Morton vs. everybody else.
Enjoyable info:
Horvath’s 83.6 QBR was one of the best final season — and the seventh better of the playoff period — by any quarterback exterior the Energy 4. The playoff period non-power convention QBs forward of him are additionally some huge names: McKenzie Milton (2017), D’Eriq King (2018), Zach Wilson (2020) and new Colorado QB Kaidon Salter (2023) amongst them.
Final season, 36.6% of Mensah’s makes an attempt had been to a wide-open goal, second highest nationally. Final yr, solely 21% of throws to Duke receivers had been large open (104th in FBS), and the Blue Devils mentioned goodbye to their prime two receivers, their beginning tight finish and their prime pass-catching again.
Mensah’s previous six video games: 80.3 QBR, 9.74 yards per move, 69% completions, 11 touchdowns, 4 picks.
Within the first 18 video games of his profession, Jennings had 333 touches and dedicated seven turnovers. In his previous eight video games, he has had 317 touches and 14 turnovers.
No returning P4 QB was blitzed extra typically final season than Pavia.
No returning QB had the next profitable play price on pink zone dropbacks final yr than Pavia (50%).
Pavia vs. top-40 defenses final season: 78.8 QBR, 12 TD passes, 3 interceptions and seven.0 yards per dropback.
Final season, 23.8% of Jalon Daniels’ passes had been thrown 20 yards or extra downfield, most by any Energy 4 QB.
No P4 QB had the next price of off-target throws final season than Daniels (19.5%).
Daniels vs. FBS competitors final yr:
First 4 video games: 6 TDs, 9 turnovers, 41.3 QBR
Subsequent 5 video games: 12 TDs, 2 turnovers, 85.9 QBR
Final three video games: 1 TD, 3 turnovers, 77.2 QBR
Moss had 5 landing passes within the second half or OT to place USC forward final yr, tied for probably the most by any QB within the nation. The Trojans nonetheless went 2-3 in these video games.
No returning QB had extra explosive performs final season than Inexperienced (98).
Tier 4: The younger pups (eight gamers)
Michigan (Bryce Underwood, Mikey Keene)
Notre Dame (CJ Carr, Kenny Minchey)
Ohio State (Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz)
Washington (Demond Williams Jr., Kai Horton)
4 faculties with playoff hopes flip to younger QBs with elite recruiting backgrounds. Not way back, this would not appear to be a wild premise, however within the period of the switch portal, the notion that packages with as a lot expertise as Notre Dame or Ohio State are placing their fates into the arms of QBs with no on-field expertise feels akin to handing your teenager, who has his learner’s allow, the keys to your new Ferrari.
QB comparability
QB A: 82.9 QBR, 68% completions, 8.6 yards per move, 4.4 touchdown-to-interception ratio
QB B: 66.2 QBR, 59.8% completions, 7.3 yards per move, 1.9 touchdown-to-interception ratio
QB A is Michigan’s passing charges in 2022 and 2023, largely buoyed by J.J. McCarthy. QB B is Michigan’s passing each different yr of the playoff period. Final season was outlined by woeful QB play, however the Wolverines are betting they’ve discovered one other star in Underwood, and even when he does not blossom instantly, Keene appears to be an improve from anybody they relied on in 2024.
Enjoyable info:
Since 2010, the one Ohio State QB to begin no less than six video games and end with a QBR lower than 70 is Cardale Jones in 2015. He gained a nationwide championship the yr earlier than.
No returning QB had the next adjusted completion proportion final season than Keene (76.6%).
Williams performed no less than 10 snaps in 5 video games final season (together with two begins). 4 had been vs. top-40 defenses. His stat line in these video games: 79% completions, 8.99 yards per try, eight touchdowns, one turnover, 86.0 QBR, 265 non-sack speeding yards.
Tier 5: The ready is the toughest half (9 gamers)
Alabama (Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, Keelon Russell)
Georgia (Gunner Stockton, Ryan Puglisi)
Ole Miss (Austin Simmons, Maealiuaki Smith)
Oregon (Dante Moore, Austin Novosad)
After three years as a backup, Stockton drove his 1984 F-150 onto heart stage in final season’s Sugar Bowl, and whereas he ended up on the shedding finish, he performed effectively sufficient for Georgia to really feel comfy handing him the offense in 2025. Simpson, a top-five QB recruit in 2022, additionally has patiently waited his flip at Alabama. Moore earned beginning expertise at UCLA as a freshman, then left for Oregon and waited behind Dillon Gabriel. Simmons watched Jaxson Dart for 2 years at Ole Miss. These guys know the system, know the locker room, and they’re prepared for his or her second within the highlight.
QB comparability
QB A: 80.3 QBR, 67% completions, 8.84 yards per try
QB B: 66.3 QBR, 62% completions, 7.84 yards per try
QB B is not terrible, however QB A is bordering on elite. That is no shock. QB A is Georgia’s common with Beck or Stetson Bennett on the sector. QB B is Georgia’s passing sport with anybody else at QB since Kirby Sensible took over in 2016.
Enjoyable info:
In his 5 years as head coach at Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin’s beginning QBs have averaged 24 landing passes, eight picks, 67% completions and 9.5 yards per move with a QBR of 82.0. General, Ole Miss’s QBR in that span is 80.4, trailing solely Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia and Oregon nationally.
In 11 profession video games (three begins) vs. Energy 5 competitors, Moore has accomplished 52% of his throws with 4 touchdowns and eight picks.
Oregon’s 87.4 QBR since Dan Lanning took over as head coach in 2022 is tops within the nation.
Of the previous 10 quarterbacks to begin Week 1 for Alabama, eight took over the job having fewer than 100 profession makes an attempt below their belts. The three QBs competing for the job this season have a mixed 53 school move makes an attempt.
Alabama quarterbacks accounted for 17 turnovers final season, probably the most for the Tide since no less than 2004 and greater than double their 2023 whole.
Tier 6: Second time’s the appeal (eight gamers)
Kansas State (Avery Johnson, Jacob Knuth)
Nebraska (Dylan Raiola, Marcos Davila)
NC State (CJ Bailey, Lex Thomas)
Texas A&M (Marcel Reed, Jacob Zeno)
UCLA (Nico Iamaleava, Luke Duncan)
Tier 6 quarterbacks all bought a wholesome dose of life as QB1 final season with some combined outcomes. But when these rising pains as a first-time starter in 2024 translate into extra refined play in 2025, every QB may simply blossom into one of many nation’s greatest.
QB comparability
Contemplate these two true freshmen from final season.
QB A: 9 begins, 60.1 QBR, 65% completions, 22 TDs, 13 turnovers, 74.0 Professional Soccer Focus grade
QB B: Seven begins, 57.9 QBR, 60% completions, 12 TDs, 9 turnovers, 67.0 Professional Soccer Focus grade
Who’s higher? Except for a number of further turnovers, you’d in all probability lean with QB A, proper? Properly QB B is a man everyone seems to be excessive on this yr — Florida’s DJ Lagway. QB A is NC State’s Bailey.
Enjoyable info:
Bailey within the pink zone final yr: 17 whole TDs, zero turnovers.
Returning Energy 4 QBs who accounted for 32 TDs and three,200 yards final yr: Nussmeier, Klubnik, Robertson, Becht and Kansas State’s Johnson.
Raiola’s numbers final season from Oct. 1 onward: 53.8 QBR, 5.95 yards per try, 4 touchdowns, 11 turnovers, 9.1 yards per completion.
Final season, Reed had six performs with a 20% win chance added. Over the previous two seasons, all different Texas A&M quarterbacks had one.
Iamaleava final season vs. Chattanooga, UTEP, Kent State and Mississippi State (mixed 4-31 vs. FBS groups final yr): 71% completions, 10 landing passes, zero picks, 10.9 yards per try. Iamaleava vs. all others: 61% completions, 9 landing passes, 5 interceptions, 6.9 yards per move.
Tier 7: Constantly constant (16 gamers)
Boise State (Maddux Madsen, Max Cutforth)
BYU (Jake Retzlaff, Bear Bachmeier)
Cincinnati (Brendan Sorsby, Brady Lichtenberg)
Illinois (Luke Altmyer, Ethan Hampton)
Indiana (Fernando Mendoza, Alberto Mendoza, Grant Wilson)
Michigan State (Aidan Chiles, Alessio Milivojevic)
USC (Jayden Maiava, Husan Longstreet, Sam Huard)
Virginia Cavaliers (Chandler Morris, Daniel Kaelin)
The time period “sport supervisor” will get thrown round so much in QB evaluation, and it is typically used rather than the time period “common.” That is an unfair descriptor for these gamers, who’re sport managers extra in a way of doing all of the little issues it takes to provide their groups an opportunity to win with out typically hogging a lot of the highlight within the course of. They’re excellent — they’re simply in all probability not going to emerge as superstars.
QB comparability
QB A: 74.9 QBR, 62% completions, 7.1 yards per dropback, 20 TD passes and 6 interceptions
QB B: 74.7 QBR, 62% completions, 7.4 yards per dropback, 19 TD passes and 6 interceptions
Fairly shut, proper? QB A is Boise State’s Madsen. QB B is former Louisville QB Tyler Shough, who was the third quarterback chosen in final month’s NFL draft.
Enjoyable info:
Two QBs return for 2025 after having thrown for 3,500 yards and 35 touchdowns final yr: Klubnik and Virginia’s Morris.
Final season, 67.6% of Retzlaff’s completions went for a primary down or TD, tops amongst all Energy 4 QBs.
Retzlaff’s manufacturing:
vs. top-40 defenses: 50.0 QBR, 55% completions, 4 touchdowns, 6 picks, 7.0 yards per dropback.
vs. all others: 74.2 QBR, 60.1% completions, 16 touchdowns, 6 picks, 8.0 yards per dropback.
Altmyer completed final season with 22 passing touchdowns (most by an Illinois QB since 2008) and a couple of,717 passing yards (most since 2015).
In 4 wins vs. FBS opponents final season, Sorsby threw 4 touchdowns and three interceptions. In seven losses, he threw 12 touchdowns and 4 picks.
Michigan State has not thrown extra touchdowns than its opponents in any full season since 2017.
USC had a 48.2% profitable play price on offense with Maiava at QB final yr and a 48.1% price with Moss, however the Trojans averaged extra yards per play (6.41 to six.16) and a greater EPA per play (0.16 to 0.05) with Moss than Maiava.
Tier 8a: Recent begins: veteran version (9 gamers)
Auburn (Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels, Deuce Knight)
Florida State (Tommy Castellanos, Brock Glenn)
Houston (Conner Weigman, Zeon Chriss)
Northwestern (Preston Stone, Jack Lausch)
Do not forget that season of “Dallas” that turned out to be only a unhealthy dream, and the following yr the present pretended as if none of it ever occurred? That is form of how this tier desires to view 2024. Arnold and Weigman had been among the many most touted recruits and appeared poised to interrupt out final season. As an alternative, they fell flat. Stone and Castellanos had each turned in spectacular 2023 campaigns solely to get benched a yr later. Now, all 4 are getting a recent begin in a brand new dwelling with an opportunity to show 2024 was the aberration and all of the hype they’d loved earlier than final yr was totally deserved.
Tier 8b: Recent begins: untested version (six gamers)
Cal (Devin Brown, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele)
Missouri (Beau Pribula, Sam Horn)
Syracuse (Steve Angeli, Rickie Collins)
These jobs are nonetheless up within the air, and the contenders embrace a bunch of once-heralded prospects who’ve by no means fairly clicked. Except for Horn, all have transferred to new faculties on the lookout for a change of surroundings and an opportunity to play, and odds are, one or two will lastly show the long-forgotten recruiting buzz was deserved.
QB comparability
QB A: 69.0 QBR, 9.16 yards per move, 33 touchdowns, 7 interceptions
QB B: 43.7 QBR, 6.23 yards per move, 27 touchdowns, 19 interceptions
QB A appears to be like fairly good. QB B appears to be like totally bleak. Properly, QB A is Stone, Northwestern’s new quarterback, over the previous two seasons at SMU, the latter of which resulted in him being benched. QB B is the mixed manufacturing of all Northwestern quarterbacks over the identical span.
Enjoyable info:
Arnold was pressured on 45.1% of his dropbacks final season when the protection didn’t blitz — the very best price of any QBR-qualified Energy 4 participant.
Arnold’s profession numbers vs. man protection: 9 touchdowns, one INT. Arnold vs. zone protection: six touchdowns, 5 INTs.
Arnold performed no less than 20 snaps vs. seven Energy 4 opponents final season. Six of them gained no less than 9 video games and ranked within the prime 20 in ESPN’s FPI at season’s finish. He additionally confronted Tulane from the Group of 5. The Inexperienced Wave gained 9 video games and ranked thirty second in FPI.
Angeli was ESPN’s No. 179 recruit within the class of 2022. Collins was No. 199 in 2023. They have not performed a lot in school, however when given taking part in time, they have been good: 88.0 QBR, 75% completions, 10 passing touchdowns, one interception and averaged 9.31 yards per try.
Within the playoff period, just one QB (not coached by Mike Leach) had extra passing makes an attempt in a season than Kyle McCord did for Syracuse final yr. The Orange averaged 46 passes per sport, which is the third most by an ACC crew up to now 20 years.
Over the previous two seasons, different Texas A&M quarterbacks mixed for 23 performs of no less than a ten% win chance added. Weigman had zero.
The one Energy 4 QB who completed with a worse QBR final yr than Castellanos (37.9) was Utah’s Isaac Wilson, who won’t be the Utes’ starter in 2025. Amongst QBs with eight or extra begins for a Energy 5 college, Castellanos posted the Twenty first-worst QBR of the playoff period.
No Energy 4 crew averaged fewer yards per dropback final yr than Florida State (4.8).
Pribula, Horn, Angeli and Brown had been all thought of blue-chip recruits and ranked among the many prime 30 QBs of the category of 2022. Coming into Yr 4 of their careers, they’ve mixed to make two begins and have thrown 192 whole passes.
Tier 9: Welcome to the massive leagues (14 gamers)
Colorado (Kaidon Salter, Julian Lewis)
Iowa (Mark Gronowski, Hank Brown)
North Carolina (Gio Lopez, Bryce Baker, Max Johnson)
Tennessee (Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre)
Utah (Devon Dampier, Brendan Zurbrugg, Isaac Wilson, Nate Johnson)
Invoice Belichick is betting huge on a QB from South Alabama. Iowa’s offense may lastly have some life with a QB from South Dakota State. Utah may’ve deliberate to maintain turning to Cam Rising proper up till Cam Rising Jr. was able to take over, however as a substitute, the Utes will flip to a QB from New Mexico. The entire Tier 9 quarterbacks are shifting up from a decrease stage and can be anticipated to provide instantly at locations with excessive hopes for a playoff run in 2025.
QB comparability
QB A: 70.1 QBR, 61 TD passes, 31 turnovers, 8.0 yards per try, 60.1 completions, 289 yards per sport
QB B: 69.7 QBR, 54 TD passes, 16 turnovers, 7.7 yards per try, 63.5 completions, 249 yards per sport
QB A undoubtedly wants to chop down on the turnovers, however other than that, they’re fairly shut, proper? Properly, QB A is Aguilar’s numbers over the previous two years. QB B is Tennessee’s quarterback manufacturing over that very same span.
OK, another.
QB A: 395 performs, 25 TDs, 7 turnovers, 2,559 move yards in 11 begins
QB B: 391 performs, 18 TDs, 10 turnovers, 2,459 move yards in 10 begins
You’d lean QB A, however not by a large margin. QB A is UNC’s Lopez final yr taking part in within the Solar Belt. QB B is former UNC quarterback Jacolby Criswell‘s line for the Heels in 2024.
Enjoyable info:
Most touchdowns accounted for over the previous two seasons, returning QBs:
Salter, 66
Klubnik, 66
King, 62
Pavia, 61
Aguilar, 61
No QB was extra elusive below stress final yr than Dampier. Nobody even got here shut. Dampier was sacked as soon as for each 25.2 dropbacks below stress — practically eight extra dropbacks per sack than the next-best participant.
Iowa has solely 47 landing passes up to now 5 seasons mixed. In that very same span, Ohio State has 173.
Iowa hasn’t averaged 1.0 passing touchdowns per sport since … 2019.
QBs who accounted for 1,000 non-sack rush yards final yr and return for 2025: Mateer (1,032), Parker Navarro (1,143), Dampier (1,187) and Horvath (1,298).
Lopez noticed man protection on simply 19.3% of his dropbacks final yr, the bottom price of any returning QBR-qualified FBS participant and roughly half as typically as UNC QBs final season.
Tier 10: Another attempt (seven gamers)
Arizona (Noah Fifita, Braedyn Locke)
Mississippi State (Blake Shapen, Luke Kromenhoek)
Virginia Tech (Kyron Drones, William Watson III, Garret Rangel)
Just like the QBs in Tier 8, these gamers are hoping to erase some unhealthy reminiscences from 2024. However in contrast to Tier 8, these QBs stayed put. Fifita, Drones and Shapen have all skilled success, however all fell flat final season. However all of them have sufficient potential that the colleges who’ve been on the curler coaster with them had been keen to go for one final experience in 2025.
QB comparability
QB A: 88.0 QBR, 9.84 yards per move, 8 touchdowns, 4 picks, 19 completions of 20 yards or extra
QB B: 59.4 QBR, 6.06 yards per move, 6 touchdowns, 6 picks, 6 completions of 20 yards or extra
QB A has some swagger, proper? Properly, that is Arizona’s Fifita final season when concentrating on future No. 8 draft decide Tetairoa McMillan. QB B is Fifita when throwing to every other large receiver.
Enjoyable info:
Drones in wins over the previous two seasons: 11 video games, 75.6 QBR, 63.8% completions, 8.63 yards per move, 29 touchdowns, 6 turnovers, 15 sacks
Drones in losses over the previous two seasons: 9 video games, 47.3 QBR, 55.8% completions, 5.85 yards per move, 10 touchdowns, 11 turnovers, 20 sacks.
For the reason that begin of the 2023 season, Shapen has averaged 7.8 yards per move, accounted for 27 touchdowns and thrown solely 4 picks. However he has additionally sat out 12 video games.
Tier 11: Room for enchancment (eight gamers)
Oregon State (Maalik Murphy, Gabarri Johnson)
Pitt (Eli Holstein, David Lynch, Cole Gonzales)
West Virginia (Nicco Marchiol, Jaylen Henderson, Max Brown)
Holstein, Marchiol and Murphy, who had been all stable recruits, have proven flashes of brilliance however have left followers wanting extra. But when they’ll construct off the inspiration from 2024 and blossom this season, there’s an opportunity they may turn into real stars.
QB comparability
QB A: 45.5 QBR, 7.1 yards per move, 15 touchdowns, 7 turnovers
QB B: 91.4 QBR, 10.8 yards per move, 5 touchdowns, 1 turnover
Two utterly totally different gamers, proper? Properly, QB A is Holstein within the first three quarters final season. QB B is Holstein’s fourth-quarter manufacturing.
Enjoyable info:
Holstein vs. top-40 defenses (by effectivity) final season: 31.6 QBR, 5.3 yards per try, 0 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
Holstein vs. everybody else: 55.6 QBR, 8.54 yards per try, 17 touchdowns, 3 interceptions.
Marchiol has 10 profession video games since 2022 by which he has taken no less than 10 snaps. His line in these video games: 58% completions, 9 whole TDs, 5 turnovers, 6.16 yards per move.
The one Energy 4 QBs with extra video games with three passing touchdowns than Murphy’s six final season? Ward, Klubnik and Shedeur Sanders.
Murphy is 11-3 as a beginning QB. That is a greater profession profitable proportion than Jordan Travis, Dillon Gabriel and Riley Leonard.
Tier 12: What’s within the field? (10 gamers)
Boston College (Dylan Lonergan, Grayson James)
Minnesota (Drake Lindsey, Dylan Wittke, Emmett Morehead)
Oklahoma State (Hauss Hejny, Zane Flores)
Stanford (Elijah Brown, Ben Gulbranson, Dylan Rizk)
The 4 faculties in Tier 12 are turning to largely unproven quarterbacks in 2025. Hejny, Brown, Lonergan and Lindsey — ought to they find yourself the starters — have a mixed 11 profession passing makes an attempt. So, what’s going to occur? That is the fantastic thing about the unknown. Till the video games are performed, we will assume this can all work out splendidly.
QB comparability
QB A: 78.9 QBR, 8.11 yards per try, 2.8 TD-INT ratio
QB B: 56.0 QBR, 6.84 yards per try, 1.5 TD-INT ratio
It could be laborious to recollect, however there was a time when Stanford churned out some distinctive quarterbacks. QB A is the Cardinal’s passing charges from 2010 to 2018, when Andrew Luck, Kevin Hogan and KJ Costello put up huge numbers, performed in Rose Bowls and gained 78% of their video games. QB B, then again, is Stanford’s QBs over the previous six seasons — none amounting to greater than 4 wins.
Enjoyable info:
Greatest QBR vs. bowl-eligible Energy 4 groups amongst returning gamers (minimal 4 begins):
Robertson, 83.2
Pavia, 82.6
Beck, 82.1
Grayson James, 82.1
Throughout Mike Gundy’s first 15 seasons at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys averaged a landing move each 15.5 makes an attempt. Since 2020, that price has jumped to at least one for each 24.7 makes an attempt.
Stanford has not thrown 20 landing passes in a season since 2018.
Tier 13: Wily veterans (11 gamers)
Colorado State (Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Jackson Brousseau)
Kentucky (Zach Calzada, Beau Allen)
Miami (OH) (Dequan Finn, Henry Hesson)
Memphis (Brendon Lewis, Antwann Hill)
Rutgers (Athan Kaliakmanis, AJ Surace, Rocco Rainone)
The COVID-19 season afforded everybody an additional yr of eligibility, and that modified QB play for the previous few years. In 2018, the common QBR-qualified quarterback had began 18.4 video games by season’s finish. In 2023, that quantity had jumped to 23.6 — mainly an additional half-season, on common, of beginning expertise. Final yr, 29 totally different quarterbacks (21% of FBS starters) completed the season with no less than 36 profession begins — primarily three full seasons’ value — with Bo Nix topping the record with 61. Gabriel ended his profession with 63 begins. The 2025 season would be the final to incorporate a large variety of COVID-eligibility gamers, whereas the development towards much less skilled QBs is already starting. Nonetheless, there are a number of who’ve paid their dues — after which some. That is what Tier 13 is all about. The anticipated starters right here have already got 157 profession begins throughout 13 faculties below their belts.
QB comparability
QB A: 57.7 QBR, 2 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
QB B: 78.2 QBR, 10 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
The primary man is Rutgers’ Kaliakmanis by means of the primary 5 video games of final season. The second man is Kaliakmanis after that.
Enjoyable info:
Two groups had a single QB throw each move final season: Rutgers and New Mexico.
No returning QB had the next Professional Soccer Focus grade final season than Lewis.
4 quarterbacks — Paxton Lynch, Brady White, Riley Ferguson and Seth Henigan — account for 153 of the previous 154 video games began for the Tigers, relationship to 2013. Every began no less than 26 video games at Memphis and accounted for no less than 70 touchdowns.
Tier 14: Better of the Group of 5 (10 gamers)
Florida Atlantic (Caden Veltkamp, Kasen Weisman)
UConn (Joe Fagnano, Nick Evers)
Ohio (Parker Navarro, Nick Poulos)
Old Dominion (Colton Joseph, Quinn Henicle)
Southern Miss (Braylon Braxton, Jeremy Hecklinski)
Toledo (Tucker Gleason, John Alan Richter)
South Florida (Byrum Brown, Bryce Archie)
UTSA (Owen McCown, Dematrius Davis Jr.)
As of late in school soccer, there is a fairly regular expertise drain from the Group of 5 to the massive boys. Prior to now two seasons, 47 quarterbacks from exterior the Energy 5 completed with a QBR of 60 or higher. Solely 17 returned to their crew the following yr (36%). Sixteen transferred to Energy 4 faculties. The purpose is, holding proficient quarterbacks within the Group of 5 is hard to do. The gamers in Tier 14 nonetheless match the invoice.
QB comparability
QB A: 9.9 yards per move, 13 touchdowns, 1 decide
QB B: 7.2 yards per move, 5 touchdowns, 7 picks
QB A was mainly unstoppable. That was FAU’s Veltkamp final season (at Western Kentucky) towards man protection. QB B struggled rather more. That was Veltkamp vs. zone defenses.
Enjoyable info:
Braxton vs. the blitz final season: 94.3 QBR (greatest amongst returning QBs), 8 TDs, 0 INTs, 10.51 yards per try.
Braxton’s 59.7 QBR when pressured is the second greatest amongst all returning QBs (trailing solely Horvath).
Final yr at Marshall, Braxton went 8-0 because the starter. In these video games, he had 15 touchdowns and two picks.
Braxton had three video games by which he threw three touchdowns and no interceptions whereas tallying fewer than 220 yards passing. Within the playoff period, solely three different QBs have accomplished that.
Within the fourth quarter final season, Navarro accomplished 77% of his throws, averaged 9.8 yards per try, and posted a QBR of 96.0, one of the best mark of any QB within the nation.
Navarro is certainly one of simply 13 FBS QBs to hurry for 18 touchdowns or extra in a season within the playoff period.
UConn’s offense averaged 6.7 yards per play and seven.97 yards per move with Fagnano at QB final yr. With Evers: 4.96 yards per play and 5.04 yards per move.
The one Group of 5 QB with 3,000 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 or fewer turnovers returning to his crew this season: Gleason.
QBs returning to the identical crew who posted a QBR of 60, threw 25 touchdowns and 10 or fewer interceptions: Klubnik, Becht, Robertson, Johnson and UTSA’s McCown.
Tier 15a: We was any person: prime recruit version (10 gamers)
Maryland (Justyn Martin, Malik Washington)
Louisiana (Walker Howard, Daniel Beale)
UCF (Tayven Jackson, Jacurri Brown, Davi Belfort, Cam Fancher)
Wake Forest (Robby Ashford, Deshawn Purdie)
The switch portal has turned the duty of evaluating QB depth charts into one thing akin to becoming a member of Fb within the 2010s, the place you discover out what occurred to people you used to know however had all however forgotten about — solely as a substitute of realizing your promenade date is now a divorced dental hygienist in Topeka, you shake your head and suppose, “Robby Ashford’s at Wake Forest now? I by no means would’ve guessed!” And in true mid-2010s Fb style, Purdue’s Browne ended up rekindling a relationship together with his ex.
Tier 15b: We was any person: established starter version (17 gamers)
James Madison (Matthew Sluka, Camden Coleman)
Liberty (Ethan Vasko, Ryan Burger)
Purdue (Ryan Browne, Bennett Meredith, Evans Chuba, Malachi Singleton)
Tulane (Kadin Semonza, Brendan Sullivan)
UNLV (Anthony Colandrea, Alex Orji)
Washington State (Zevi Eckhaus, Ajani Sheppard, Jaxon Potter)
Wisconsin (Billy Edwards Jr., Danny O’Neil)
It is enjoyable that Purdue’s beginning QB state of affairs may be fairly defined with the GIF of Grandpa Simpson opening a door, doing a lap and strolling again out the door. Browne began a pair of video games for the Boilermakers final season, entered the portal, spent 4 months with Belichick, then went proper again to Purdue, no hurt accomplished.
QB comparability
QB A: 72.3% completions, 13 touchdowns, two turnovers, 70.0 QBR
QB B: 59.7% completions, seven touchdowns, 9 turnovers, 48.8 QBR
That is one QB taking part in elite soccer and one other who deserves a seat on the bench, proper? Properly QB A was Edwards in August and September of final yr at Maryland. QB B is Edwards the remainder of the best way. However, Maryland’s report in August and September relationship again to 2013 is 36-10. After Oct. 1, nevertheless, the Terps are 28-69. So possibly the issue wasn’t Edwards.
Enjoyable info:
Solely returning QBs with an adjusted completion proportion lower than 60%: Purdie (59.6) and Parker Awad (53.4)
The one QBR-qualified Energy 4 QB to not throw a single landing move on third or fourth down final season: Edwards (0 TDs, 4 INTs).
Amongst 207 QBs with no less than 60 dropbacks final season, Anthony Colandrea completed 162nd in yards per dropback (5.48) and Alex Orji completed 207th (2.93).
UCF has three quarterbacks on its roster who had been four-star recruits and one other with 4 years of expertise as part-time starters. The mixed stat line of these QBs: 37 begins, 17-20 report, 45.3 QBR, 38 landing passes, 37 interceptions.
Sullivan spent the previous three years at Iowa and Northwestern. These two groups mixed in that span have a QBR of 37.1, with 63 TD passes and 62 INTs. Tulane in that very same span: 64.0 QBR, 80 landing passes and 20 INTs.
Tier 16a: We was ACC starters (17 gamers)
Akron (Ben Finley, Brayden Roggow)
Charlotte (Conner Harrell, Grayson Loftis, Zach Wilcke)
Coastal Carolina (MJ Morris, Emmett Brown)
Georgia State (Christian Veilleux, Cameran Brown)
Nevada (Chubba Purdy, AJ Bianco)
South Alabama (Zach Pyron, Bishop Davenport)
Texas State (Nate Yarnell, Keldric Luster, Holden Geriner, Brad Jackson)
Tier 16b: We was starters within the Huge Ten, Huge 12 or SEC (11 gamers)
App State (AJ Swann, JJ Kohl)
Bowling Green (Drew Pyne, Lucian Anderson III)
Eastern Michigan (Noah Kim, Jeremiah Salem)
UMass (Brandon Rose, AJ Hairston, Grant Jordan)
Utah State (Bryson Barnes, Jacob Conover)
The Peter Precept suggests that folks rise to the extent of their incompetence. The inverse of this could be true in school soccer now, the place QBs fall to the extent of their competence. This tier has 79 profession begins on the Energy 4 stage, profitable 35 of them. These QBs moved on — in some instances, twice already — and now discover themselves helming Group of 5 offenses. For a number of, similar to Finley and Veilleux, it has already proved to be a wise transfer. For the remainder, 2025 might be the yr they discover new life at a barely decrease stage.
QB comparability
QB A: 9-4 as a starter, 64% completions, 29 landing passes, 12 picks, 7.7 yards per try
QB B: 9-3 as a starter, 61% completions, 29 landing passes, 12 picks, 7.1 yards per try
Each guys are fairly stable, proper? QB A is getting loads of love for it, too. That is LSU’s Nussmeier final season. QB B although? That’d be Bowling Inexperienced’s Pyne relationship to 2021 throughout three totally different Energy 5 faculties.
Enjoyable info:
Within the playoff period, Bryson Barnes is certainly one of simply 5 QBs to account for no less than 17 touchdowns on fewer than 200 touches.
Finley’s final 5 video games of the season at Akron: 3-2 report, 9 TD passes, 2 interceptions, 21 completions of 20 yards or extra. Finley averaged 11.4 air yards per throw in that span, finishing simply 47% however averaging 14.7 yards per completion.
Tier 17: We will make this work (16 gamers)
Arkansas State (Jaylen Raynor, Ethan Crawford)
ECU (Katin Houser, Raheim Jeter)
FIU (Keyone Jenkins, Chayden Peery)
Georgia Southern (JC French, Turner Helton)
Louisiana Tech (Evan Bullock, Blake Baker)
Middle Tennessee (Nicholas Vattiato, Roman Gagliano)
Sam Houston (Hunter Watson, Mabrey Mettauer)
SJSU (Walker Eget, Xavier Ward)
There is not any disgrace in being in Tier 17. These QBs have all had slightly success, proved they belong and determine to be completely good in 2025, too. They’re slightly like flying out of Atlanta-Hartsfield. It’s miles from a pleasing expertise, however when you think about the context, it actually ought to be a lot worse.
QB comparability
QB A: 48.6 QBR, 56% completions, 22 touchdowns, 11 turnovers, 21 completions of 20 yards or extra
QB B: 48.1 QBR, 62% completions, 21 touchdowns, 10 turnovers, 21 completions of 20 yards or extra
QB A is without doubt one of the largest names within the Group of 5 — Liberty’s Salter, now QB1 at Colorado. QB B is Sam Houston’s Watson.
Enjoyable info:
ECU’s Katin Houser had the bottom common time to supply amongst returning QBs (2.35 seconds).
Jenkins’ final 4 video games of the season: 70.3 QBR, 64% completions, 10.2 yards per move, 12 touchdowns, one interception.
In six video games vs. groups with a .500 report or higher, Raynor had 4 landing passes and 7 interceptions. In seven video games vs. groups with a shedding report, he threw 12 TD passes and three interceptions.
Vattiato has thrown for extra yards (7,524) in his profession than all however three different returning quarterbacks.
Tier 18a: New faces, good locations (17 gamers)
Air Force (Josh Johnson, Liam Szarka, Maguire Martin)
Army (Dewayne Coleman, Cale Hellums, Ethan Washington)
Fresno State (E.J. Warner, Jayden Mandal)
Jacksonville State (Cade Cunningham, Gavin Wimsatt)
North Texas (Reese Poffenbarger, Drew Mestemaker)
San Diego State (Jayden Denegal, Bert Emanuel Jr)
Wyoming (Kaden Anderson, Mason Drube, Landon Sims)
Everybody on this tier has a recent face at QB, however these faculties have some historical past of expertise on the place. Whether or not anybody can repeat the success of previous stars similar to Bryson Daily or Josh Allen, nevertheless, stays an enormous query.
Tier 18b: Welcome to the membership (six gamers)
Delaware (Zach Marker, Nick Minicucci, Braden Streeter)
Missouri State (Jacob Clark, Drew Viotto, Deuce Bailey)
The 2 latest FBS packages each return established QBs with some expertise, and given the short success of JMU, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston after shifting up from the FCS, it is definitely potential these guys may make some noise in Convention USA.
Tier 18c: Misplaced that loving feeling (4 gamers)
Troy (Goose Crowder, Tucker Kilcrease)
Western Kentucky (Maverick McIvor, Tucker Parks)
It is only a disgrace {that a} QB named Maverick and a QB named Goose aren’t on the depth chart at Navy.
Enjoyable info:
The one energetic QBs with extra multi-touchdown passing video games than Warner (18): Finn, Aguilar and Pavia.
Warner’s 37 profession interceptions are probably the most by any returning QB.
Air Power’s QBR from 2019 by means of 2022: 67.9. Air Power’s QBR the previous two seasons: 34.6.
Tier 19: It might be worse (21 gamers)
Ball State (Kiael Kelly, Walter Taylor III)
Buffalo (Ta’Quan Roberson, Gunnar Gray)
Central Michigan (Joe Labas, Angel Flores)
Marshall (Zion Turner, Carlos Del Rio-Wilson)
New Mexico State (Logan Fife, Parker Awad)
Northern Illinois (Josh Holst, Jalen Macon)
Rice (AJ Padgett, Drew Devillier)
Temple (Evan Simon, Gevani McCoy, Anthony Chiccitt)
UAB (Jalen Kitna, Ryder Burton)
UTEP (Skyler Locklear, Malachi Nelson)
Annually, there are quarterbacks who fly utterly beneath the radar, have completely effective seasons, and for one random Tuesday evening in November, seize the creativeness of some thousand of probably the most die-hard school soccer followers by throwing for 400 yards and 6 touchdowns towards Akron. Someplace on this tier is that QB for 2025.
Enjoyable info:
Turner and Del-Rio Wilson have mixed to play for six faculties, make 14 begins and throw 13 landing passes.
Kitna vs. Tulsa final season: 78% completions, 6 landing passes, 12.6 yards per move.
Kitna vs. everybody else: 60% completions, 11 landing passes, 11 picks, 6.4 yards per move.
Final season, Labas threw 5 interceptions towards Florida Worldwide. Each different quarterback within the nation accounted for six interceptions towards Florida Worldwide. Labas accounted for 17% of all of FIU’s interceptions since 2020
Locklear and UConn’s Nick Evers are the one FBS QBs to throw for 90 yards or fewer whereas making an attempt no less than 10 passes in 4 totally different video games final season.
Tier 20: Nowhere however up (16 gamers)
Hawai’i (Micah Alejado, Luke Weaver, Jarret Nielsen)
Kennesaw State (Dexter Williams, Amari Odom)
Kent State (Devin Kargman, Ruel Tomlinson)
New Mexico (Cole Welliver, Toa Faavae, Jack Layne)
Tulsa (Kirk Francis, Carson Horton)
UL Monroe (Aiden Armenta, Hunter Herring)
Western Michigan (Broc Lowry, Brady Jones)
Every season, just a few hundred gamers get to say they’re an FBS quarterback. These guys are amongst them. That is one thing.
Enjoyable info:
QBs with seven or extra begins who threw extra interceptions than touchdowns final season:
Zeon Chriss: 4 TDs, eight picks
Gevani McCoy: three TDs, six picks
Ashton Daniels: 10 TDs, 12 picks
Isaac Wilson: 10 TDs, 11 picks
Bryce Archie: 9 TDs, 10 picks
Jack Lausch: seven TDs, eight picks
Armenta: 9 TDs, 10 picks; he is the one member of this group pegged to begin once more in 2025
No QBR-qualified participant returning for 2025 completed final season with a decrease QBR than Francis (27.7).
The final QB to begin a win vs. an FBS crew at Kent State is Collin Schlee. He performed for 2 different groups since then and is out of eligibility.